events

3 September, 2013

It’s Convention Season!

It’s con season! All this talk of writing conventions is making me super excited for my first writing con, World Fantasy Con 2013 at the end of October. But I’m still thinking ahead, and hoping to grab some early bird tickets for an even more con-filled 2014. So, I’m dropping by the blog today to ask — what cons are you going to this year? Next year? I put out a shout on Twitter earlier for UK con recs, and got some excellent suggestions! I love that a few of them are outside of London as well, since London’s not my favourite place to try and travel around(/afford). I’ve got a feeling 2014 will involve trips to these well-recommend cons:

Eastercon in Glasgow (Satellite 4) (current Early Bird pricing ends 04/04/2014)
Price: £65 until 04/04/2014 Date: 18th – 21st April
Worldcon in London (Loncon 2014)
Price: £65 young adult early bird pricing ends Sept Date: Thursday 14th to Monday 18th August 2014
Fantasycon 2014 in York
Price: £40 until 01/01/2014. Date: September 5th – 7th 2014
UKYA Con, if details are announced in time. Date and location currently unknown.
Bristolcon 2014 in Bristol
Price: seem to be a permanent dirt cheap £20 Date: October 26th again, maybe?
~~Nine Worlds Con in London, if I can afford it, which is looking unlikely.~~
Price: £75 as of writing Date: August 9th-11th
Ruled out as I can only afford so many cons in 2014. Sorry, 9Worlds.
~~Hi-Ex 2014 in Inverness, if it happens~~
Been told this isn’t due to happen in 2014.

9 August, 2013

WriteOnCon 2013!

wocLOGO_Orange

Remember last year when I was fangirling about WriteOnCon? Well, WriteOnCon is back, and it’s even better than before! The actual con runs on the 13th and 14th August, but the forums are already buzzing with activity.

If you want an opinion on a query, these forums are the place to be. The main attraction of the critique forums is that Ninja Agents (a US literary agent under an anonymous avatar) may drop by to take a look at your work, and that’s what pulls most people there, but the forums are worth their weight in gold because of the amazing critique your fellow writers will provide. I’ve received some really fantastic advice so far.

It’s also a nice way to see what other writers are currently working on. There’s some amazing ideas out there in teen literature and it’s been a pleasure to read about some of them.

If you’re taking part you can find my account here, my DIVIDE THE SKY query here along with the first 250 words. There’s also my ALL THE BROKEN THINGS query here and the first five pages.

Are you taking part in WriteOnCon? Lurking, giving critique, or putting your own work out there? Drop by and leave a comment!

24 December, 2011

Favourite Christmas Songs

While I’m in the Yuletide spirit – I thought I’d share my favourite Christmas song.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q[/youtube]

And my less-serious other favourite Christmas song:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-Uv8CKYTdQ[/youtube]

(I’m trusting that you’ve all heard my third favourite Christmas song, ‘Fairytale of New York‘, because it’s nearly inescapable with Christmas music playing everywhere at this time of year.)

If you’ve got a particular favourite, drop me a link in the comments. :) I’m off to continue spending my evening with my head in a book…

16 February, 2009

Valentines Weekend – Part 1

It’s been… more than a rough week. A rough few months, really. The recession is not fun, nor was being without my laptop, so with money worries and the inability to get some release via art and writing, I’ve been a bit of a stressed-out mess.

I like Valentines, though. In the past, when I was young, it was just a sort of embarrassment-ridden sideshow that I hoped would pass by without any stupid pranks coming my way. Once I actually started doing that whole relationship thing, it’s always been something i enjoyed – though for Dave and I, who keep up a pretty-much constant stream of romance, trying to think up a way to make Valentines different was always going to be a struggle.

This week, in particular, has been quite the mix – I only just got my laptop back, and having the tool for my artistic release back within my reach has infused me with an odd, work-obsessed desperation to use it and to create. Around mid-week, Dave kept me on the phone all the walk home and I stated, too sharply, that I wanted to have some peace at home to work instead of going to Inverness – only to step into the door and find the house candlelit, and Dave waiting on the coach with a movie night prepared. Thoughts of work were quickly abandoned, but that didn’t stop the feelings of guilt… I try very hard to balance work, art and love and keep running semi-independently, and it’s very easy to mis-step.